ADAMS TWP — When Marcel Ittner runs the 100-meter dash, he usually says, "Auf Wiedersehen" to the competition.

The freshman has run a time of 10.86 seconds this season for the Freeport track and field team.

Although Ittner hasn't broken the 11-second barrier since his explosive early season run, he has been consistently speedy.

"How I ran the 10.86, I have no clue," Ittner said. "I just put everything I had into it."

Ittner is a little more mature than most freshmen.

When he was 8, Ittner moved to the United States from Germany.

He knew very little English and was held back a grade as he caught up.

His older brother, Timo, plays on the Freeport soccer team.

"We're known as the German Boys," Ittner said.

Ittner admitted the culture shock was tough on him.

"When I came over here, I knew nothing," Ittner said.

Now fluent in English and rather rusty in German, Ittner has no trouble translating his speed to the track.

Ittner said he believes he has another sub-11 second run in him and it might come sooner rather than later.

As the competition increases, so too will his speed, he says.

"The only chance I'll have to get to that time again is to run against someone that fast," Ittner said. "If I have no one there to push me, then I won't be able to do it."

Ittner is a perfectionist. He analyzes every movement, from the blocks to his arm motion to his lean at the tape.

He said that has been his biggest challenge.

"It's like a work in progress," Ittner said. "At the beginning of the season, I was keeping my arms in tight and not moving them like I should. Once you get that down, something else happens that you have to work on."

Freeport coach Bill Dillen can't argue with the results.

Ittner has been more valuable to Dillen and his team than just his 100 speed.

Ittner makes winning the 200 a matter of routine and also is a standout on the sprint relays.

"I knew he had some speed," Dillen said. "But he has been a pleasant surprise."

•

Hit parade. The Monsters of Moniteau are at it again.The Warriors softball team is scoring runs and collecting hits in bunches.Moniteau (7-2 overall and 5-1 in the KSAC) has scored 40 runs and banged out 55 hits in the last three games.During that span, Jaryn Beatty has homered and driven in five runs, and Ashley Lominski also has five RBI.•

Scoring spree. It seems no one can stop Jamie Antoszyk on the lacrosse field these days.The Knoch senior attacker has scored 21 goals in the last three games, including eight against Erie McDowell.She has scored 32 goals in the last nine games.